Method of welding a protective covering of copper to an iron or steel body.



J. KIRBY.

METHOD OF WELDING A PROTECTIVE COVERING or COPPER T0 AN IRON 0R STEEL BODY.

APPLICAT'ON FILED DEC. 8. I915.

1,21 1,715, Patented Jan. 9, 1917.

fig, 1.

COPPER P1475 3 .1 are? JOHN KIRBY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA,

METHOD OF WELDING A PROTECTIVE COVERING OF COPPER TO AN IRON 0R STEEL BODY.

Application filed December 8, 1915.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN KIRBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Welding a Protective Covering of Copper to an Iron or Steel Body, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a method of welding a protective covering of copper to an iron Or steel body and has for its object to provide a method, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, whereby copper sheets, plates, cylinders, sleeves, jackets, etc., can be welded to the exposed surface or surfaces of an iron or steel body so as to prevent such surface or surfaces from corroding or rusting from atmospheric action, which otherwise would be the case when the exposed surface or surfaces is or are subjected to the action of the atmosphere. The rusting or corroding of the exposed surface or surfaces of the iron or steel body greatly impairs the commercial usefulness of such body as is obvious.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, for the purpose of setting up a copper surface for iron or steel to protect the latter against corrosion by atmospheric influences or against any chemical action to which copper is immune.

Briefly described the method consists in the setting up of a copper covering, such as a copper plate, sheet, cylinder, etc., within a mold and then running or pouring into the mold against the inner face of the covering molten iron or steel, at as low a temperature as is consistent with a fluid state. The

. heat of the metal will attack the inner face of the covering sufliciently to soften said inner face and the copper in such condition will readily unite with the iron or steel during the solidification of the latter and have all the characteristics and withstand all the usual tests of a true weld.

As illustrating, by way of example, a pair of molds for carrying the method into effeet reference will be had to the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of a mold employed when covering the ends or sides of an iron or steel body. Fig. 2 is an elevation Specification of Letters Patent.

- Patented Jan. 9, 1911?.

Serial No. 65,665.

of a mold employed when forming a copper covered billet from which wire is drawn.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing 1 de notes a rectangular mold provided with a gate 2 and?) denotes the copper plates which form the covering for the sides of the iron or steel body.

Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawing e denotes a cylindrical mold having a gate and 6 denotes a copper shell or cylinder which forms the covering for the billet from which wire is drawn.

An example of carrying the method into effect when it is desired to cover the ends of the sides, of an iron or steel body is as follows :A suitable chilled mold is'set up of the shape desired and within the molding cavity, at opposite sides of the wall thereof arepositioned the copper sheets or plates. Molten steel or iron, at as low a temperature as is consistent with a. fluid state of the metal, is poured into the molding cavity, the temperature of the metal is from 2400 degrees to 2600 degrees Fahr. The molten metal is supplied to the molding cavity between the copper plates, in such a manner that the infiowing metal flows gently against the inner faces of the copper plates. impartingto them a degree of heat sufficient to soften the said inner face without however reducing the copper to a molten state or cause the plates to lose their original. shape. In this softened condition the copper will readily and firmly unite with the metal and provide a bond having all the characteristics and withstanding all the usual tests of a true weld, moreover the temperature of the metal at the moment of its contact with the copper plates precludes oxidization of the surfaces of the metal and at such point preventing the formation of foreign oxids which would by their presence destroy the weld.

If desired during the welding operation the mold can have the walls thereof cooled, for example by employing a water jacket, under such conditions preventing that surface of the copper plate opposing the wall and which is not engaged by the molten metal from becoming heated.

If a large ingot or billet is to be molded and to prevent the heat of the metal having effect upon the copper so as to melt 1t, proas the ingot or billet can be arranged within the mold and spaced from the copper. Said protecting plates would have openings or gates to allow the metal to flow between the plates and the copper and by such an arrangement such metallic plates would protect the copper. The metallic plates would be of the same length and height as the billet to be formed and would be cast therewith. The employment of such plates is to prevent the heat of the molten metal attacking the copper to melt the same. When the mold has been filled to its capacity its combined contents are allowed to solidify and the billet thus formed will be ready for the rolls.

When forming a copper covered billet from which wire is drawn, the molten metal is poured into a copper cylinder, the latter being positioned or clamped within a mold and if desired the outer face ofthe cylinder can be cooled so that the heat from the molten metal when poured into the cylinder will not cause the latter to lose its original shape. After the cylinder has been filled with themetal, the latter is allowed to solidify which provides for a perfect weld be tween the copper and metal and overcomes the necessity of sealing the ends of the billet when drawing the wire.

What I claim is 1. A method of welding a protective covering of copper to an iron or steel body comprising the softening of the inner face of a solid copper body by bringing into gradual contact with said inner face the metal to be protected when in a molten state and at a temperature from 2400 degrees F. to 2600 degrees F., and then allowing the molten metal to cool to cause the solidification of such metal with the copper thereby setting up a perfect weld between the copper and the solidified metal.

2. A method of welding a protective cov-v ering of copper to an iron or steel body comprising the positioning of the covering formed of a solid copper body within the molding cavity of the mold, then supplying the metal to be protected at a temperature from 2400 degrees to 2600 degrees F. to the molding cavity of the mold to gradually contact with the inner face of said copper body to soften said inner face, and then allowing the molten metal to cool to cause the solidification of such metal with the copper thereby providing a perfect weld between the copper and the solidified metal.

3. A method of welding a protective cov: ering of copper to an iron or steel body comprising the positioning of the covering formed of a solid copper body within the molding cavity of the mold, so that the outer face of the copper body will oppose the wall of the molding cavity, then supplying. the

metal to be protected at a temperature from 2400 degrees to 2600 degrees F. to the molding cavity of the mold to gradually contact with the inner face of said copper body to soften said inner face, and then allowing the molten metal to cool to cause the solidifi cation of such metal with the copper thereby providing a perfect weld between the copper and the solidified metal.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature I in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN KIRBY, Witnesses:

NICHOLAS L. BOGAN, A. L. SRoLov1Tz. 

